Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
  • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
  • H04H20/65—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems for broadcast
  • H04H20/76—Wired systems
  • H04H20/82—Wired systems using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/06—Receivers
  • H04B1/08—Constructional details, e.g. cabinet
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2201/00—Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
  • H04M2201/60—Medium conversion
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
  • H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
  • H04M3/5307—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
  • H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
  • H04M3/533—Voice mail systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
  • H04M7/12—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
  • H04M7/1205—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
  • H04M7/121—Details of network access arrangements or protocols
  • H04M7/1215—Details of network access arrangements or protocols where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of reception of audio programming, and, more particularly- relates to the field of transmission and reception of streaming audio over a computer network such as the Internet. Description of the Related Art
• the Internet is a worldwide array of interconnected computers and information servers that allow anyone with a computer and access to the Internet to get information about virtually any subject 24 hours a day.
• ISP internet Service Provider
• ISPs such as CompuServe, Prodigy, and America On-Line, currently link over ten million users to the Internet. Users typically connect to the ISP by using standard telephone lines and a telephone modem. Cable modems that allow a user to connect to the ISP over cable television lines, and satellite connections to the Internet, are also available.
• the Internet provides a wealth of information from stock reports to headline news.
• One of the newer services provided on the Internet is a streaming audio (e.g., RealAudio and MPEG audio) service.
• Streaming audio services are often provided in connection with the World Wide Web (Web) and thus are often called Web radio broadcasts.
• Web World Wide Web
• a user with a Personal Computer (PC), a sound card, and the necessary software can listen to audio programs from anywhere in the world.
• PC Personal Computer
• Radio Prague provides daily Internet broadcasts from the Czech Republic. Listeners in the U.S. can listen to these Web radio broadcasts either in real time, or stored for later replay.
• Web radio broadcasts can be heard anywhere, so long as the listener has a connection to the Internet and the necessary computer hardware and software.
• Embodiments of the present invention solve these and other problems by providing an intelligent radio apparatus that is adapted to allow a user to receive Web radio broadcasts in a manner similar to the ease and low cost with which a user receives a regular radio broadcast.
• Embodiments of the intelligent radio also provide Internet telephony, voicemail, text-to-voice email, voice-to-text email, and voice activated commands. These features are provided in a simple, low-cost, easy-to-use device.
• the intelligent radio apparatus relieves the user of the complicated tasks associated with installing and configuring computer software.
• the intelligent radio apparatus also preferably provides a user interface that is less like a computer program and more like a conventional radio, thus making the device easy to use.
• the user controls provided by the intelligent radio are so similar to the controls provided on a conventional AM radio or FM radio that a non-technical user can tune into Web radio broadcasts or AM/FM radio broadcasts with similar ease.
• the intelligent radio typically provides lower cost, smaller size, lower power consumption, less upkeep and maintenance, and more convenience.
• the intelligent radio include user controls such as switches, a tuning knob, joysticks, cursor controls, remote controls, etc.
• the user controls allow the user to select a Web radio station and control other aspects of the operation of the intelligent radio.
• the user controls are configured such that the intelligent radio operates more like a conventional radio and less like a computer program.
• the intelligent radio includes a tuning knob that allows the user to "tune" Web radio stations from a list of available Web radio stations. The user turns the tuning knob to move from one Web radio station in a manner similar to the way a user would use the tuning knob on a conventional radio to tune from one radio station to another.
• the intelligent radio provides each selection of Web radio broadcasts by categories such as, for example, language, content, subject matter, etc.
• the intelligent radio apparatus includes a visual display for providing information to a user, a network interface (e.g., a modem) for transmitting and receiving digital data over a communications network, and embedded software adapted to connect to the Web and to decode streaming audio.
• the communications network may be telephone lines, cable TV lines, satellite communication systems, etc.
• the intelligent radio apparatus also includes loudspeakers for playing the broadcasts.
• Other embodiments include a data storage device for storing software and audio files.
• the intelligent radio apparatus is adapted to be installed in an automobile, boat, airplane, or other vehicle. In yet another embodiment, the intelligent radio apparatus is adapted to be a portable device much like a conventional transistor radio.
• the intelligent radio is configured to work in connection with service routines running on a remote computer connected to a computer network.
• the remote computer may be an Internet site (e.g a web site or ISP) that provides additional functionality to the intelligent radio.
• the intelligent radio may include a microphone to allow voice-activated commands to be used for controlling the intelligent radio.
• Voice recognition software to interpret the voice commands may be provided in either the intelligent radio or in the remote computer. If the voice recognition software is located in the remote computer, then the intelligent radio digitizes the voice data and passes the digitized voice data to the remote computer. The remote computer converts the voice data into computer commands and passes the command to the intelligent computer.
• service routines in the remote computer are used to offload other tasks as well, including, for example, formatting the display, searching the Internet for radio web sites, converting audio and other data from one format to another format, etc. Offloading tasks to the remote computer simplifies the intelligent radio and reduces the size and cost of the intelligent radio without sacrificing functionality. Moreover, the software in the remote site can be kept up-to-date at all times without updating the software in the intelligent radio.
• the intelligent radio is configured to provide Internet telephone services to a user by connecting a telephone or telephone handset to the intelligent radio.
• An Internet telephone connection that provides streaming audio, is established between the intelligent radio and a remote unit such as an intelligent radio, computer, or telephone system.
• a remote unit such as an intelligent radio, computer, or telephone system.
• the user speaks into the handset the user's voice is digitized and passed to the remote unit where it is converted to audio for the user of the remote unit.
• the remote user's speech is digitized and passes as a stream of digital data to the intelligent radio where it is converted into audio and provided to a loudspeaker in the telephone handset.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tabletop intelligent radio apparatus.
• Figure 2 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio apparatus.
• Figure 3A shows a default display that appears while a Web broadcast is being received.
• Figure 3B shows a menu display that allows the user to select one of the command and setup displays shown in Figures 3C-
• Figure 3C illustrates a select language display that allows a user to specify desired languages (e.g., English, French, etc.).
• Figure 3D illustrates a display that allows a user to select a type of program material (e.g., news, sports, weather, etc.).
• Figure 3E illustrates a display that allows a user to select various program broadcasts.
• Figure 4 illustrates a data-entry display that the intelligent radio apparatus uses to allow the user to input alphanumeric text.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates operation of the intelligent radio apparatus.
• Figure 6A illustrates the information management and data processing functions provided by a Web radio Web site (e.g., www.webradio.com) to produce a list of Web radio broadcast stations for the user.
• a Web radio Web site e.g., www.webradio.com
• Figure 6B illustrates a relationship between the Web radio Web site and other web sites that provide streaming audio programming.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tabletop intelligent radio tuner.
• Figure 8 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio tuner shown in Figure 7.
• Figure 9 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of the intelligent radio that provides a remote playback capability.
• Figure 10 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of the intelligent radio that provides a remote access capability.
• the first digit of any three-digit number indicates the number of the figure in which the element first appears. For example, an element with the reference number 502 first appears in Figure 5. Where four-digit reference numbers are used, the first two digits indicate the figure number.
• One aspect of the present invention is an intelligent radio device that allows a user to receive digitized radio broadcasts over the World Wide Web (Web).
• the intelligent radio provides the hardware and software necessary to receive digitized radio from the Web without the need for a personal computer or other expensive equipment.
• the intelligent radio provides a display device, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that allows the user to select a desired Web broadcast from a list of available Web broadcasts.
• the display also allows the user to select Web broadcasts in a particular language.
• the software, the user controls, and the display in the intelligent radio 100 are operably configured and connected such that a user can tune into a Web radio broadcast in a manner similar to the way a user would use the controls on a conventional radio to tune into an AM or FM radio station.
• the intelligent radio provides people who are not comfortable with computers, or who do not own or have access to a computer, an opportunity to listen to streaming audio information from the Internet.
• the intelligent radio is a low-cost tabletop box that connects to an AC power line and a phone line.
• the device includes a display device, speakers, a control panel, a computer processor, a stored software program, and a modem.
• the intelligent radio uses the modem to establish a telephone connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• ISP Internet Service Provider
• the stored software program connects to a Web Radio home page, via the ISP, and downloads a list of Web radio station addresses.
• the user may enter a web address (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)) to connect directly to a web page that provides audio broadcasts (instead of first connecting to the Web Radio home page).
• a web address e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
• the user may use buttons on the control panel to scroll through the display and select a Web radio broadcast "station" for listening.
• the stored software program connects to the station and begins to receive digitized audio data transmitted by the station.
• the intelligent radio converts the received data to analog audio and plays the audio on one or more loudspeakers.
• the intelligent radio is a tuner that connects to an audio system such as a component stereo system.
• the tuner provides an audio output to the audio system.
• the audio system provides amplifiers and loudspeakers.
• the tuner comprises an enclosure that connects to an AC power line, a network line, and the audio system.
• the network line may be any type of computer data connection, including, for example, a telephone line, a cable line, an Ethernet line, a Token-Ring line, a twisted pair line, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, an IEEE-1 94 FireWire line, etc.
• the tuner includes a display device, a control panel, a computer processor, a stored software program, and a modem.
• the intelligent radio uses the modem to establish a telephone connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• ISP Internet Service Provider
• the stored software program connects to a Web Radio home page, usually provided by the ISP, and downloads a list of Web radio stations.
• a user uses use buttons on the control panel (or remote control) to scroll through the display and select a Web radio broadcast "station" for listening. Alternatively, the user may use voice-activated commands to scroll through the
• the stored software program connects to the station and begins to receive digitized audio data transmitted by the station.
• the intelligent radio converts the received data to analog audio, which is provided to the audio system.
• FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a tabletop intelligent radio 100.
• the intelligent radio 100 is mounted in an enclosure 101 and connects to household AC power through a power cord 104 and to a communications network by a network cable 102.
• the network cable 102 may be a telephone line, a network cable, a cable TV cable, a connection to a wireless (e.g., satellite) unit, etc.
• the communications network may use Indium satellites developed by the Motorola Corp., Globalstar satellites developed by a consortium of European manufacturers which includes Aerospatiale and Alcatel, P21 satellites developed on a project financed by Inmarsat, or the Odyssey satellite system developed by a TRW consortium associated with Teleglobe/Canada.
• User controls are mounted on the front of the enclosure 101 and include a combined on-off and volume control 110, a command button 121, a cursor control 116, a select button 118, a tuning control 114, and a button bar 120.
• the cursor control 116 provides up, down, left, and right movements of a cursor or other entity on a display device 112.
• the button bar 120 provides buttons to select an audio source, including, for example, "AM” radio, "FM” radio, "Web” radio, "Cassette", and "External” input.
• the display device 112 which provides information to the user.
• An optional cassette player/recorder 130 provides the capability to play and record audio cassettes.
• the intelligent radio 100 also includes a left stereo speaker 106 and a right stereo speaker 108 that may be mounted in the enclosure 101 or in separate enclosures.
• a wireless remote 135 provides remote operation of the intelligent radio 100.
• a microphone is provided as well. An output from the microphone is provided to an analog-to-digital converter to convert the analog microphone signal into digital data. The microphone may be placed in the intelligent radio 100, in the wireless remote 135, or both.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio 100.
• the intelligent radio 100 comprises a Central Processor Unit (CPU) 202 that is used to run the intelligent radio software.
• the CPU 202 is connected to a random access memory 204, a data storage device 210, and a modem 206.
• the data storage device 210 may be any type of non-volatile data storage device, including, for example, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a CMOS memory with battery backup, etc.
• the data storage device 210 provides storage for software programs used by the intelligent radio 100.
• the software stored on the data storage device 210 may be upgraded by downloading new software from the Web.
• the data storage device 210 may also provide storage for digitized audio material, such as recorded Web radio broadcasts, CD-Audio, etc.
• the modem 206 is connected to a communications network 230, shown as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), by the network cable 102.
• PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
• the communications network 230 is shown as a PSTN network, one skilled in the art will recognize that the network 230 may also be a cable television (CATV) network, a satellite network, or any other communications network.
• CATV cable television
• the network 230 comprises both a Direct TV/PC satellite connection that provides information to the intelligent radio 100 at high speed (e.g., 400,000 bytes per second or more), and a PSTN network connection so the intelligent radio can upload information back to the ISP 232 (because many Direct TV/PC connections are only one-way).
• the satellite network is a two-way satellite
• the satellite network uses the IndiumTM system developed, in part, by the Motorola Corp.
• a telephone 229 is connected to a first port of a codec 260.
• a second port of the codec 260 is provided to the
• the codec provides digital-to-analog conversion and analog-to-digital conversion for the telephone 229.
• the codec 260 also provides standard telephone interface signals, such as a ringing signal, to the telephone 229, and telephone status conditions, such as receiver up or receiver down, to the CPU 202.
• the codec 260 and the modem 206 may be combined as a telephone modem.
• the telephone 229 may be connected even when the network 230 is not a telephone network.
• the modem 206 provides an interface between the CPU 202 and the communications network 230 and the operational characteristics of the modem 206 are determined by the type of communications network 230. Thus, if the network 230 is a PSTN network, then a telephone modem is used; if the network 230 is a CATV network, then a cable modem is used, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the modem 206 is integral to the intelligent radio 100. In other embodiments, the modem 206 is provided in a separate enclosure.
• An Internet Service Provider (ISP) 232 provides the user with a connection from the communications network 230 to the Web via the Internet 234. Note that Figure 2 shows functional elements, but not necessarily hardware configurations.
• the modem 206 may be implemented in software on the CPU 202.
• the CPU 202 may be a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).
• DSP Digital Signal Processor
• the CPU 202 may comprise a single computer processor, or multiple computer processors.
• the CPU 202 comprises two processors, a DSP and a general purpose microprocessor, in one embodiment, the modem 206 is provided in a plug-in module such that the intelligent radio can be configured for different types of computer networks by simply changing the modem plug-in to suit the type of network being used.
• the CPU 202 provides data to the display device 112.
• the CPU 202 receives user inputs from the command button 121, the tuning control 114, the button bar 120, the select button 118, and the cursor control 116.
• the CPU 202 provides digitized audio samples to an input of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) 220.
• the analog audio output of the DAC 220 is provided to an amplifier 222.
• the DAC 220 and the amplifier 222 are each two-channel devices, providing left and right stereo channels.
• a left channel output of the amplifier 222 is provided to the left channel speaker 106 and a right channel output of the amplifier 222 is provided to the right channel speaker 108.
• the volume control 110 controls the gain of the amplifier 222.
• the other optional audio sources such as the cassette device 130, an AM tuner 240, an FM tuner 242, and an external input 244 also provide inputs to the amplifier 222.
• Other optional audio sources may be provided, such as, for example, an audio CD, a DVD, a digital audio tape unit, etc.
• the CPU 202 controls the cassette device 130, the AM tuner 240, the FM tuner 242, and other optional audio sources.
• a line output from the amplifier 222 may also be provided to a record input of the cassette device 130.
• the button bar 120 is used to select one of the audio sources.
• the intelligent radio 100 When the button bar 120 is set to "AM,” the intelligent radio 100 operates in an AM radio mode, in the AM radio mode, an analog output from the AM tuner 240 is provided to the amplifier 222. Also in the AM radio mode, the display device 112 displays the frequency of an AM station selected by the AM tuner 240. The user may use the tuning control 114 to select a desired AM station.
• the AM mode is optional.
• An analog output from a microphone 250 is provided to an analog input of an analog-to-digital converter 252.
• a digital output from the analog-to-digital converter 252 is provided to the CPU 202.
• the microphone 250 and converter 252 allow for voice commands to control the intelligent radio.
• the microphone 250 and converter 252 are optional.
• a microphone is also placed in a wireless remote so that voice commands can be provided from the wireless remote.
• the intelligent radio 100 When the button bar 120 is set to "FM,” the intelligent radio 100 operates in an FM radio mode. In the FM radio mode, the analog audio output from the FM tuner is provided to the amplifier 222, and the display device 112 displays the frequency of the FM station selected by the FM tuner 242. The FM mode is also optional.
• the button bar 120 When the button bar 120 is set to "Cassette,” the intelligent radio 100 operates in a cassette playback mode. In the cassette playback mode, analog output from the cassette player is provided to the amplifier 222, and the display device 112 displays information relating to the cassette playback.
• the cassette playback mode is also optional.
• the cassette device 130 may also optionally be configured to provide a record capability such that the cassette can be used to record audio information from any of the other modes.
• the cassette can be used to record FM radio, AM radio, or Web radio broadcasts.
• the button bar 120 is set to "Web”
• the intelligent radio 100 operates in a Web Radio mode.
• the intelligent radio 100 uses the modem 206 to connect to the ISP 232.
• the ISP 232 provides a list of available Web broadcasts, and access to the Internet 234, so that the various Web broadcasts can be received by the intelligent radio 100.
• the display device 112 is used to select a Web broadcast and to provide information about the selected Web broadcast.
• Figures 3A through 3E show various displays provided by the display device 112 while in the Web Radio mode.
• Figure 3A shows a default display 300 that appears while a Web broadcast is being received.
• Figure 3B shows a menu display that allows the user to select one of the command and setup displays shown in Figures 3C-3E.
• the display 300 includes information about the Web broadcast including the type of broadcast (e.g., "Newscast"), the Web address (URL) of the source for the broadcast (e.g., http::/lwww/npr.org), a description of the broadcast (e.g., "National Public Radio 1997"), a broadcast format (e.g., "Streaming RealAudio"), etc.
• Figure 3B shows a menu display 320 that allows the user to access the various setup and control displays shown in Figures
• the user activates the menu display 320 by pressing the command button 121.
• the display 320 provides a menu list 322 that lists the various other command displays.
• the list 322 may provide: a "Tune Station” command for activating a tune-station display 340, shown in Figure 3E; a "Select Language” command for activating a select-language display 310, shown in Figure 3C; and a "Select List” command for activating a select-list display 322, shown in Figure 3D.
• the list 322 may also provide commands to activate other displays (not shown) such as "Setup,” to initialize the intelligent radio, "Scan Stations,” to get a new list of Web broadcast stations from the ISP 232, and "Define Station,” to manually define a Web broadcast station not listed by the ISP 232.
• the list 322 may also provide commands to activate other displays (not shown) such as “Setup,” to initialize the intelligent radio, "Scan Stations,” to get a new list of Web broadcast stations from the ISP 232, and "Define Station,” to manually define a Web broadcast station not listed by the ISP 232.
• the list 322 may also provide commands to activate other displays (not shown) such as “Setup,” to initialize the intelligent radio, "Scan Stations,” to get a new list of Web broadcast stations from the ISP 232, and "Define Station,” to manually define a Web broadcast station not listed by the ISP 232.
• the list 322 may also provide commands to activate other displays (not shown) such as “Setup,” to
• the display 320 also provides a scroll bar 321 to allow the user to scroll through the list 322 and select an item (command) from the list. Scrolling may be accomplished by using either the cursor control 116 or the tuning control 114. The user uses the cursor control 116 or the tuning control 114 to highlight a desired menu item in the list 322, and then the user presses the select button 118 to select the highlighted menu item.
• the select-language display 310 allows the user to elect to receive Web broadcasts in one or more selected languages.
• the display 310 provides a list of available languages 312 and a scroll bar 314 for scrolling through the list 312.
• Each item in the list 312 corresponds to a language (e.g., English, French, etc.) and each item is provided with a checkbox 313. If a checkbox 313 is checked, then the corresponding language is enabled.
• the display 310 also provides an OK button 315, a Cancel button 316, a Clear-All button 317, and a Select-All button 318.
• the Clear-All button 317 clears all of the checkboxes 313, and the Select-All button 318 checks all of the checkboxes 313.
• the user "presses" one of the buttons 315-318 by using the cursor control 116 to highlight a desired button and then pressing the select button 118 to "press" the highlighted button.
• the select-list display 330 allows the user to select a preferred type of program material (e.g., Sports, Weather, News, All, etc.).
• the display 330 includes a list 332 of program types and a scroll bar 331.
• the user uses the cursor control 116 or the tuning control 114 to highlight a desired program type from the list 332, and then the user presses the select button 118 to select the highlighted program type.
• the select-broadcast display 340 allows the user to select a Web broadcast.
• the display 330 includes a list 342 of the available Web broadcasts having the proper language (as selected in the select language display 310) and the desired program type (as selected in the select-list display 331).
• the user uses the cursor control 116 or the tuning control 114 to highlight a desired broadcast from the list 342, and then the user presses the select button 118 to select the highlighted program type.
• Each item in the list 342 is provided with a checkbox 343. If the checkbox 343 is checked, then the corresponding broadcast is a preferred (or "fast- tune") broadcast.
• the user may scroll through the fast-tune broadcasts by using the tuning control 1 14 from the default display 300 shown in Figure 3A, without having to activate the select-broadcast display 340.
• This provides a convenient shortcut feature to allow the user to quickly tune to stations that the user regularly listens to.
• Figure 4 illustrates a data-entry display 450 that allows the user to input alphanumeric text (e.g., the telephone number of the ISP 232 or a URL).
• the display 450 includes a text prompt 451 to prompt the user for the desired data.
• the display also includes an onscreen keyboard 452, a text display 453, an OK button 454 and a Cancel button 455.
• the user enters text by using the cursor control 118 to highlight a desired character on the on-screen keyboard 452 and then pressing the select button 118 to enter the highlighted character into the text display 453.
• the OK button 454 and the Cancel button 455 are "pressed" in the same fashion.
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 that begins at a start block 501 and illustrates the Web Radio mode process.
• the process advances from the start block 501 to a decision block 502, where the process checks a status flag to determine whether or not the intelligent radio software needs to be initialized (setup). If setup is needed, then the process advances to a process block 504; otherwise, the process jumps over the setup steps to a process block 514.
• the process obtains a phone number for the desired ISP 232.
• the phone number may be obtained from a default phone number stored in the intelligent radio software, or by prompting the user through the data-entry display 450.
• the process advances to a process block 506, where the modem 206 dials the telephone number and establishes a modem connection with the ISP 232. Once the connection is established, the process advances to a process block 508 where the user establishes an account with the ISP 232.
• the user is prompted for a password that is stored on the data storage device 210 or entered using the data-entry display 450.
• Establishing an account may include other actions, such as creating a username for the user, changing the phone number used to access the ISP 232, and entering information about the user and the user's account.
• the process advances to a process block 510 where a list of available Web radio broadcast stations is downloaded to the intelligent radio 100 from the ISP 232 and stored on the storage device 210. Lists of available languages and program types are also downloaded and stored on the storage device 210.
• the process advances to a hang-up block 512 wherein the modem 206 terminates the network connection (e.g., hangs-up the phone).
• the setup process is complete, and the process advances to the process block 514.
• the modem dials the ISP 232 and then advances to a process block 516 where the intelligent radio
• the hang-up, redial, and logon (blocks 512, 514, and 516, respectively) is desirable when using a PSTN, because the initial telephone call, placed in the block 506, is typically a long-distance call or a toll-free (e.g., a 1-800) call. By contrast, the telephone call placed in the block 514 is typically a local call.
• a non-PSTN network e.g., a cable modem, a satellite network, etc.
• the hang-up, redial, and logon (blocks 512, 514, and 516, respectively) is typically omitted.
• the process advances to a process block 518 where the user selects (tunes) a Web radio broadcast station. Once a Web broadcast has been selected, the process advances to a process block 520 where the intelligent radio 100 receives the Web broadcast.
• the CPU 202 decodes and decompresses the received data as necessary and then sends the decompressed data to the DAC 220 where it is converted to an analog signal that is subsequently played on the speakers 106, 108.
• the process remains in the process block 520 while the user listens to the Web broadcast.
• the process loops back to the process block 518, selects the new station, and returns to the process block 520.
• FIG 6A illustrates the information management and data processing functions 600 provided by a Web Radio site 602 (e.g., www.webradio.com). Access to the Internet site 602 is made possible by the Internet access provided by the ISP 232.
• the Internet site 602 provides a list of Web radio broadcast stations for the user and optionally other value-added services that enhance the operation of the intelligent radio 100. For example, the Internet site 602 may provide a list of available program sources and streaming audio programming.
• the site 602 may also maintain user profile comprising a list of preferred Internet "broadcast stations".
• the site 602 also provides special download capabilities such that the user can download information and software into the intelligent radio.
• the site 602 also provides special download capabilities such that the user can download information and software into the intelligent radio.
• the site 602 can provide a customized list of stations for each user and voicemail capability.
• the site 602 may provide reformatting of streaming audio data into a format better suited for the intelligent radio.
• the site 602 also provides Web telephone capabilities to the intelligent radio 100, such that the user can use the intelligent radio as a telephone to talk to other users that are connected to the Internet.
• the codec 260 is used to digitize speech from a microphone in the handset of the telephone 229. The digitized speech is sent over the network 230 to the ISP. The ISP foiwards the digitized speech to a remote user. Similariy, the ISP provides digitized speech from the remote user to the intelligent radio.
• the intelligent radio uses the codec 260 to convert the digitized speech into analog signals that are played on the speakers 106 and 108 or a speaker in the handset of the telephone 229.
• the intelligent radio provides voice email in connection with the site 602.
• text-to- voice software in the site 602 is used to convert email text into digitized voice data as words spoken in the user's desired language.
• the digitized voice data is provided to the intelligent radio where it is converted to an analog signal and played on the speakers 106 and 108 or a speaker in the handset of the telephone 229.
• the user speaks into the microphone 250 or the microphone in the handset of the telephone 229 and the spoken words are converted into digitized speech by the intelligent radio.
• the intelligent radio sends the digitized speech to the site 602 where it is converted into email text and then emailed to the recipient.
• the software to convert speech to text and text to speech is provided in the site 602 in order to minimize the cost and complexity of the intelligent radio. Alternatively, the software to convert speech to text and text to speech is provided in the intelligent radio.
• the site 602 also provides special formatting and markup protocols that are tailored to the intelligent radio display 112.
• Most existing Internet sites are geared towards a computer or television and assume that a user has a large, high resolution, color monitor.
• Most existing internet sites also assume that a user is accessing the site by using a Web browser such as Netscape NavigatorTM or Microsoft Internet ExplorerTM. These browsers support high level protocols such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML).
• HTML HyperText Markup Language
• the display 112 may be relatively smaller, and relatively less capable than a traditional computer monitor.
• the display 112 does not necessarily need all of the capabilities and complexity of HTML and is thus better served by information that is formatted for the display 112 and that is expressed in a markup language that is suited to the needs of the intelligent radio 100, without the overhead and complexity of HTML.
• the block 604 provides account management functions relating to the user's account with the ISP 232.
• the account management block passes data to a user preference block 606, which retrieves user profile information and user preferences specified by the user. Information regarding the user preferences may be stored by the ISP 232, or downloaded from the intelligent radio 100 as
• the program management block 608 accesses a language variety database 610 to determine which languages are available, and a program
• the program management block 608 also accesses program sources such as live broadcasts 620, archived broadcasts 624, stored music 626, and other streaming audio sources 622.
• User profile information from the user preference block 606 and program data from the program management block 608 are provided to a program list block 616, which constructs a list of available Web programs (broadcasts) that fit the user's preferences.
• the list constructed in the block 616 is passed to the intelligent radio 100.
• Figure 6B shows the conceptual relationship between the site 602 and other Web sites that supply streaming audio information, such as a site 630, a site 631, and a site 632.
• the Internet provides the ability to transfer data between any two of the sites 602, 630-632.
• the user connects, through the ISP 232, to the site 602.
• the site 602 provides links to the sites 630-632 through the programming lists provided by the site 602. If the user selects a streaming audio program from one of the sites 630-632, then the site 602 provides the necessary link to the selected site.
• the site 602 provides the link information to the intelligent radio 100, and the intelligent radio 100 makes a "direct" connection to the selected site.
• the site 602 links to the selected site, receives the streaming audio data, reformats the data if desired, and then sends the streaming audio data to the intelligent radio 100.
• FIG 7 illustrates an embodiment of an intelligent radio tuner 700.
• the tuner 700 is mounted in an enclosure 701 and connects to household AC power through a power cord 104, to a network through a network cable 102, and to an audio system through an audio line 702.
• User controls are mounted on the front of the enclosure 701 and include an on-off switch 704, a command button 121, a cursor control 116, a select button 118, and a tuning control 114.
• the cursor control 116 provides up, down, left, and right movements of a cursor or other entity on a display device 112.
• the display device 112 Also mounted on the front of the enclosure 701 is the display device 112, which provides information to the user.
• Figure 8 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio configured as a tuner 700.
• the tuner 700 comprises the Central Processor Unit (CPU) 202 that is used to run the intelligent radio software.
• the CPU 202 is connected to the random access memory 204, the data storage device 210, the modem 206, and the codec 260.
• the data storage device 210 may be any type of non-volatile data storage device, including, for example, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a CMOS memory with battery backup, etc.
• the modem 206 is connected to a communications network 230, shown as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
• PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
• the communications network 230 is shown as a PSTN network, one skilled in the art will recognize that the network 230 may also be a cable television (CATV) network, a satellite network, or any other communications network.
• the modem 206 provides an interface between the CPU 202 and the communications network 230 and the operational characteristics of the modem 206 are determined by the type of communications network 203. Thus, if the network 230 is a PSTN network, then a telephone modem is used; and if the network 230 is a CATV network, then a cable modem is used, etc.
• An Internet Service Provider (ISP) 232 provides the user with a connection from the network 230 to the Web via the Internet 234.
• ISP Internet Service Provider
• the CPU 202 provides data to the display device 112.
• the CPU 202 receives user inputs from the command button 121, the tuning control 114, the select button 118, and the cursor control 116.
• the CPU 202 provides digitized audio samples to an input of a
• DAC 220 -11- Digital-to Analog Converter (DAC) 220.
• the analog audio output of the DAC 220 is provided to the audio output 702.
• the DAC 220 is a two-channel device, providing left and right stereo channels.
• Figure 9 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of an intelligent radio that provides for remote playback.
• Figure 9 shows a base unit 900 that is connected to the communications network 230.
• the base unit 900 receives streaming audio from the Web and transmits the audio information to a remote playback unit 902.
• the base unit 900 is similar in most respects to the intelligent radio except that the amplifier 222, the loudspeakers 106 and
• the DAC 220, the cassette device 130, the AM tuner 240, the FM tuner 242, and the external input 244 are connected to a transmitter 904 rather than the amplifier 222.
• the transmitter 904 provides a transmitted signal to a receiver 906 in the remote unit 902.
• the receiver 906 provides an audio output to the amplifier 222.
• the base unit 900 receives the streaming audio information from the Internet 234 and uses a transmission carrier to retransmit the audio information to one or more remote units 902.
• the transmitter 904 and the receiver 906 may use any form of communication for the transmission carrier, including radio frequency communication, infrared communication, ultrasonic communication, etc.
• the transmitter 904 may be a low power FM (Frequency Modulation) transmitter compatible with standard FM broadcast bands, such that the remote playback unit 902 can be a standard FM transistor radio or a stereo receiver.
• the transmitter 904 may be a low power AM (Amplitude Modulation) transmitter compatible with standard AM broadcast bands, such that the remote playback unit 902 can be a standard AM transistor radio or a stereo receiver.
• FM Frequency Modulation
• AM Amplitude Modulation
• the base unit 900 may also include an amplifier 222, loudspeakers 106 and 108, and a volume control 110 such that the base unit 900 can provide both playback of the audio information and transmission of the audio information to the remote unit 902.
• FIG 10 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of an intelligent radio that provides for remote access, comprising a base unit 1002 and an intelligent radio 1000.
• the base unit 1002 comprises a transceiver 1012 coupled to a modem 1011.
• the modem 1011 is connected to the communications network 230.
• the modem 1011 receives data from the ISP and provides the data to the transceiver 1012, which then transmits the data to a transceiver 1010 in the intelligent radio 1000.
• the transceiver 1010 transmits data from the intelligent radio 1000 to the transceiver 1012.
• the transceiver 1012 provides the data from the intelligent radio 1000 to the modem 1011, which sends the data to the ISP 232.
• the intelligent radio 1000 is similar in most respects to the intelligent radio 100 shown in Figure 2, with the addition of the transceiver 1010.
• a data input/output port of the transceiver 1010 is provided to the processor 202 and a Radio Frequency (RF) input/output port of the transceiver 1010 is provided to an antenna.
• RF Radio Frequency
• the modem 206 is optional (because network communications are handled by the transceiver 1010 rather than the modem 206).
• the transceivers 1010 and 1012 use any suitable means for communication, including, for example, optical communication, radio communication, etc.
• the transceivers 1010 and 1012 are radio transceivers that use spread-spectrum
• the combination of the base unit 1002 and the intelligent radio 1000 provides a capability similar to that provided by a cordless telephone.
• the base unit 1002 can be located near a network connection point (e.g., a telephone outlet), and the intelligent radio 1000 can be conveniently placed anywhere within the range of the base unit 1002.
• the two-way communication link between the transceiver 1010 and the transceiver 1012 provides a cordess connection to the network 230.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

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• 1999
  • 1999-01-19 WO PCT/US1999/001001 patent/WO1999038266A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-01-19 AU AU23240/99A patent/AU2324099A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-01-19 CA CA002318914A patent/CA2318914A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-01-19 EP EP99903152A patent/EP1050111A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2001
  • 2001-08-20 US US09/933,568 patent/US20020072326A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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